Cochrane Db Syst Rev
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
ReviewCardioselective beta-blockers for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Beta-blocker therapy has a proven mortality benefit in patients with hypertension, heart failure and coronary artery disease, as well as during the perioperative period. These drugs have traditionally been considered contraindicated in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ The available evidence suggests that cardioselective beta-blockers, given to patients with COPD do not produce a significant short-term reduction in airway function or in the incidence of COPD exacerbations. However, the trials were small and of short duration. Given their demonstrated benefit in conditions such as heart failure, coronary artery disease and hypertension, cardioselective beta-blockers should be considered for patients with COPD, but administered with careful monitoring since data concerning long term administration and their effects during exacerbations are not available.
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Epilepsy is a common neurological condition, affecting almost 0.5 to 1 per cent of the population. Nearly 30 per cent of people with epilepsy are resistant to currently available drugs. Tiagabine is one of the newer antiepileptic drugs and its effects as an adjunct (add-on) to standard drugs is assessed in this review. ⋯ Tiagabine reduces seizures frequency but is associated with some side effects when used as an add-on for people with drug-resistant localization related seizures.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
ReviewCarbamazepine for schizophrenia and schizoaffective psychoses.
Many people with schizophrenia do not achieve a satisfactory treatment response with ordinary antipsychotic drug treatment and various additional medications are used to promote additional response. The antiepileptic carbamazepine is one such drug. ⋯ Based on currently available evidence from randomised trials, carbamazepine cannot be recommend for routine clinical use for sole treatment, or augmentation of antipsychotic treatment, of schizophrenia. Large, simple well-designed and reported trials are justified especially if focusing on those with violent episodes and people with schizoaffective disorders or on those with both schizophrenia and EEG abnormalities.
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Cochrane Db Syst Rev · Jan 2002
Review Meta AnalysisBuprenorphine maintenance versus placebo or methadone maintenance for opioid dependence.
Buprenorphine has recently been reported to be an alternative to methadone and LAAM for maintenance treatment of opioid dependent individuals, differing results are reported concerning its relative effectiveness indicating the need for an integrative review. ⋯ Buprenorphine is an effective intervention for use in the maintenance treatment of heroin dependence, but it is not more effective than methadone at adequate dosages.
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Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a frequently reported condition in active adults. A wide variety of conservative treatment strategies have been described. As yet, no optimal strategy has been identified. Application of orthotic devices e.g. knee braces, knee straps, forms of taping of the knee, active training devices, knee sleeves and in-shoe orthotics to support the foot have been advocated to treat this condition. ⋯ The evidence from randomised controlled trials is currently too limited to draw definitive conclusions about the use of knee and foot orthotics for the treatment of patellofemoral pain. Future high quality trials in this field are warranted.